Owner makes proposal for use of vacant Rochester theater

ROCHESTER — Peter Ejarque, owner of one of the vacant properties in downtown, has a vision for the former theater building at North Main Street.

Ejarque, who owns the building at 12-14 North Main St., would like to return the property to be a small theater, along with a dance floor and a space where bands can play. He said the property has been vacant for about 20 years since the former theater closed its doors, and with a seating capacity of about 600-700 people, he said renovating the building would be “a great resource for the town.”

The challenge, he said, has been finding the funds for renovating the building. The estimated cost of renovation is about $50,000-$60,000.

Ejarque, a new member of the Arts and Culture Commission, said he is now searching for people who can serve on the board of directors for the theater, which will likely be nonprofit.

“I need people who are experienced with theater, who can help me come up with a business plan, do some grant writing,” he said.

He, as well as other members of the community, met at the Chef's Table restaurant last week to discuss ways the city can bring investment to vacant downtown buildings.

During his presentation, Stuart Arnett, of Arnett Development Group, emphasized perception as being one of the important elements in bringing such investment.

He said if the feeling among investors and community members is that “it's good but it's getting better,” it's more likely that new investment will flow in, he said.

Arnett said for the first time since the 1960s, people in the area are moving from the outskirts of cities into the urban, downtown areas, where they can be close to services and cultural centers. He said Rochester can benefit from the trend.

When it comes to regulations pertaining to building codes and historical preservation, Arnett encouraged city officials to make them as stringent as they want them to be.

“I don't think they should be lax at all ... these are your quality control features,” Arnett noted, adding that enforcement of these regulations should be “enough but not too much.”

He said the key to success in downtown revitalization is a shared vision and strategy, as well as communicating a positive message about Rochester.

Arnett said he felt encouraged that more than 20 interested people came out to the meeting.